Optional side dishes (and you should always opt for them) include vegetable fritters and potato crisps. The dish is made up of a filling broth called sayur lodeh (vegetable soup cooked with coconut milk), and topped with tofu, tempeh, boiled egg, sambal, rendang, and lontong (compressed rice steamed in banana leaves). When in Medan, one dish not to be missed is the hearty lontong sayur. Dress up in traditional royal Malay Deli clothes and take a picture on the Sultan’s and Queen’s throne. It’s now a museum and the only room open to the public houses beautiful antiques, gifts and the royal collection of jewels. Visit the Maimoon Palace, whose exterior is a charming mix of Malay, Islamic and Moghul architectural styles, and was once the grand palace of the Sultanate of Deli.

This lively diverse city lives up to its role as a regional economic hub and should definitely be on your next holiday list.

As the capital of North Sumatra and an important trading hub, Medan is a cultural melting pot filled with plenty of things to see, do and eat.

Visit medan